Salary: $86,688.00 - $116,544.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: FTAA
Opening Date: 11/10/2026
Closing Date: 11/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description DSHS FTAA - Data Science & Informatics Specialist 1Join our team as a research-focused statistical programmer and use your data analyst skills to support studies that improve social and health services for more than 2.6 million DSHS clients. The Research and Data Analysis (RDA) Division within the Finance, Technology, and Analytics Administration (FTAA) uses linked administrative data to evaluate programs, examine service use and outcomes, and inform policy and operational decisions.
In this role, you'll use SAS and SQL to extract, link, clean, validate, and analyze large person-level administrative datasets, as well as primary data collected using REDCap. Working alongside researchers, program experts, and partner agencies, you'll create reproducible analytic files, statistical tabulations, measures, and reports that support applied research and program evaluation.
Some of what you'll do:- Write, test, document, and maintain SAS programs and SQL queries for research, evaluation, and program performance projects.
- Extract, link, clean, transform, and manage large person-level administrative datasets from multiple state systems, including service, eligibility, claims, encounter, cost, and outcome data, with an emphasis on substance use and mental health conditions and health-related social needs.
- Develop reproducible analytic datasets, cohorts, variables, measures, and data documentation using sound research data-management practices.
- Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, data tabulations, quality assurance, and validation to support applied research and program evaluation.
- Assess data completeness, consistency, and fitness for use; investigate anomalies and resolve data-quality issues with source-system and program experts.
- Translate research questions and study specifications into clear analytic approaches, programming logic, and accurate results.
- Prepare tables, reports, visualizations, technical documentation, and presentations that communicate methods, limitations, and findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Apply confidentiality, privacy, security, and data-sharing requirements when working with sensitive administrative data, including HIPAA and FERPA requirements.
Desired skills, knowledge, and abilities:- Proficiency as a statistical programming for data extraction, manipulation, linkage, validation, analysis, and reporting; experience with SAS and knowledge of DATA steps, procedures, macros, and reusable code is highly valued.
- Experience using SQL to query and combine data from relational databases.
- Experience working with large, complex administrative records, such as eligibility, enrollment, claims, encounters, services, costs, transactions, or program outcomes. Experience using Medicaid or behavioral health related claims data is ideal.
- Knowledge of applied research and program evaluation methods, including cohort construction, measure development, descriptive statistics, statistical testing, and interpretation of results.
- Strong data-quality and documentation practices, including code review, validation, version control concepts, metadata, data dictionaries, and reproducible workflows.
- Familiarity with primary data collection tools, such as REDCap, and applied knowledge with managing user access and privileges and providing support and technical assistance to end-users.
- Ability to understand how research questions translate into analytic specifications and be able to explain methods, assumptions, limitations, and findings from analytic datasets with other research staff clearly.
- Experience with R, Python, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools is helpful but does not replace the need for strong SAS programming skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with researchers, program staff, database professionals, and external partners while protecting confidential data.
Who should apply?We encourage applications from statistical programmers, data analysts, research analysts, , and other professionals who have:
- A bachelor's degree in statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, economics, public policy, sociology, public health, data science, mathematics, computer science, informatics, or another quantitative or research-focused field and one (1) year of experience performing data analysis, statistical programming, or applied research.
OR- An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience totaling five (5) years.
Additional required experience:In addition to the qualifications above, applicants must have at least one (1) year of experience in each of the following areas:
- Using SAS to manage, transform, validate, and analyze data.
- Working with large administrative datasets, such as social or health service records, eligibility or enrollment files, medical claims or encounters, transactions, costs, or other person-level program data.
- Supporting research, program evaluation, policy analysis, or performance measurement by preparing analytic datasets, statistical tabulations, measures, or reports.
- Documenting code, data sources, variable definitions, analytic decisions, and quality-assurance results so work can be reviewed and reproduced.
- Using REDCap, or other primary data collection tools, for data administration and survey design, as well as user management and providing technical assistance.
- Creating dashboards using Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar data visualization tools.
- Using SQL or another query language to retrieve and join data is preferred.
Ready to start a rewarding career? Apply today!Along with your application, please include:
- An updated resume
- A letter of interest
- Three professional references with contact information
Questions?Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Ricky Luna at and reference job number
#07396.The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental InformationPrior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
